Tennessee Republican Freaks Out On Camera, Calls Reporter A ‘B*tch’ Then Resigns

The Republican election commission chair for Davidson County, Tennessee has resigned after he freaked out on camera and called the female reporter, that was questioning his exorbitant spending of taxpayer dollars, a “b*tch.”

Ron Buchanan submitted his resignation on Monday morning, before the segment of his cussing out WSMV-TV reporter Alanna Autler had a chance to air.

“Do not touch me. Do you want to say that again for the camera?” Autler continues, clearly not intimidated by Buchanan’s offensive tirade.

The commission chair then turns and stomps out of the room.

WSMV had been investigating Buchanan and election administrator Kent Wall regarding expenses they had incurred on a Metro-issued credit card paid for with tax dollars. The charges included a $614 picture frame, $123 for a fancy dinner at an upscale restaurant, $140 for yet another picture frame, $150 for lamps and bookends, and a long list of other of other questionable purchases.

At the same time Wall and Buchanan were living it up on the taxpayers’ dime, early voting sites for the August election were on the chopping block because of a lack of funding.

Initially, Buchanan apologized for his explosion of verbal diarrhea in front of the cameras, but he later retracted his apology when speaking with the Tennessean.

I should not have used that terminology, but as the media has the freedom of press, individuals have the freedom of speech,” Buchanan said. “And I can tell her what I think about her. And I did that, and I don’t apologize for it. There are people that don’t think I should have done it and that it hurts politics in this area, and so be it.

When he was accused of misogyny for his choice of words, he tried in vain to squirm his way out of the sexist hole he had dug himself in to with an asinine argument that the word b*tch is gender neutral.

The b-word goes both ways. There’s b-words for both male and female genders.

He then tried to explain how it was all her fault that he totally lost it on camera when confronted with his shady credit card spending.

I turned around and she made that personal comment. It had nothing to do with the issue at hand. And when she did, I turned around and said, ‘You b*tch .’

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry issued a scathing statement, slamming Buchanan for his “outrageously inappropriate” remarks. Barry also ordered the revocation of the commission’s credit card while an audit is conducted.

It is good that Mr. Buchanan has resigned, but unfortunate that he has shown no remorse for his words or actions,” the mayor said. “Government officials should be able to withstand tough questions.

During the investigation, WSMV requested Wall’s “credit card statements and other documentation.” Almost a month later, Wall announced his resignation, effective March 31. This just so happens to be the day the commission said they would release the requested documents, which is surely just a coincidence.

Watch the report, including Buchanan’s vulgar outburst, as aired on WSMV on Monday:

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April has studied political science, psychology, and philosophy. Back in the good old days she was a reporter for “old fashioned” print newspapers. In addition to news and politics, she also blogs about service dogs and disability advocacy. As a black woman with a disability, she is fed up with the right-wingers who would prefer that she and others like her didn’t exist.